Best 5 Nootropic Herbs – Most Effective Forms and Formulas to Look For

Brain herbs have been a key part of herbalism practices around the globe for centuries. Now, due to modern scientific advancements, nootropic herbs have seriously amped-up potency — making these botanical brain-boosting supplements more effective than ever before.

This nootropic mushroom helps brain regeneration.

Lion’s mane mushroom helps with mild age-related cognitive decline. It also seems like it may benefit brainpower, especially mood, focus and attention.

What to look for when buying Lion’s Mane Mushroom supplements: There is no standardized lion’s mane. Your best bet? “Full-spectrum” extract. It delivers guaranteed active nootropics: hericenones and erinacines.

Pine bark is an early wellness herb. Native Americans would brew it as tea. Modern research confirms Pine bark is a powerful health promoter. Most noteworthy may be its brain health and cognitive benefits.

Potent Brain Protection: The OPC complex in Pine bark is a “super antioxidant” that neutralizes free radicals. Because they cross the blood brain barrier and reach the brain, OPCs are better than other antioxidants.

Pine bark extract’s two main brain benefits are powerful. At first glance, they seem good for long-term brain heath — because inflammation, free radical damage, and poor circulation cause cognitive problems.

As it turns out, in addition to brain health, Pine bark might boost mental performance more than we realized.

Pine bark is one of the most exciting nootropic herbs because emerging evidence suggests it may sharpen attention and focus in younger populations, in addition to its overall brain health benefits for adults over age 50.

What to look for when buying Pine Bark:Maritime Pine bark is stronger than other species. This is because maritime trees need better protection against salty air and high winds. Maritime Pine bark extract should be standardized for OPCs. 90% standardization of proanthocyanidins is good. Higher? Even better.

Green Tea’s active nootropic is L-Theanine.

Also found in oat grass, L-Theanine works differently from other nootropics:

L-Theanine boosts Alpha brain waves. This brain-state is described as wakeful relaxation.

If you enjoy green tea, you probably know the feeling: Tranquility without sedation. Rather, the mind is clear, sharp, and calm.

Alpha brainwaves improve relaxation and mood. In addition, due to wakeful relaxation, Alpha brainwaves may help creative problem-solving, artistic endeavors, and other expository thinking.

Green tea’s active nootropic L-Theanine tunes the brain to Alpha waves that are associated with a calm, creative and focused mindset.

In addition, like other nootropic herbs, green tea helps the brain in many ways. L-Theanine seems good for age-related brain fog, attention, relaxation, and stress reduction.

What to look for when buying either Green Tea or L-Theanine: Green tea has L-theanine, caffeine and antioxidants. L-theanine supplements? Just L-theanine. L-theanine is the nootropic you want. So look for L-Theanine capsules and pills rather than green tea.

Conclusion

Nootropics have many forms. They might be amino acids or phospholipids. They could even be vitamins or minerals.

Nootropic herbs, however, form an especially key nootropic class.

Some botanicals for brain health have been used for what seems like forever. But science is advancing. Therefore, today’s nootropic herbs are getting better.

Maybe you are taking a nootropic herb as a standalone supplement. Or perhaps you are considering a nootropic stack formula with nootropic herbs. Whatever the case, in conclusion, nootropic herbs belong in all brain-boosting programs.